"When we say it’s a military collection, people think, well, I don’t want to just go in there and see just military guns and things, but what they have to realize is, all of these artifacts tell a story,” said Brigadier Gen. (Ret.) Thomas Mancino, President of the Oklahoma Military History Center Board.
Each uniform, patch, and helmet stands as a testament to the courageous Americans who withstood tremendous hardships or even death. Some bear familiar names, while others quietly honor unsung heroes.
“So, the stories and today’s reality are important,” Mancino said. “You’re only going to get that when you can actually see the stories and artifacts of the original service men and women.”
At its heart, the Military History Center is dedicated to encouraging patriotism by safeguarding the stories and sacrifices woven into U.S. military history.
Mancino lives this mission every day. Now in his 80s, he brings history to life for students at Broken Arrow High School, often sharing firsthand stories from his service in Afghanistan.
“We do a lot of programs through the schools,” Mancino said. “And a lot of schools send their students down to check out our library books.”
With more than 6,000 volumes, the Center is home to the largest military history library in northeastern Oklahoma. Many items were donated to the museum after their owners' deaths.
Col. Robert Powell, Jr., who founded the Military History Center, donated more than 200 items from his own collection before he passed away.
“We try to exhibit uniforms and items that have an Oklahoma connection,” Mancino said. “Many of our items here are from Broken Arrow people, but if not Broken Arrow, most of them have an Oklahoma connection.”
The Military History Center is currently located in Broken Arrow's Rose District, inside the former Franklin Memorial Hospital, built in 1942. The building is aging, and the collection is outgrowing the space.
“You won’t find 100 feet of space that’s not occupied,” Mancino said. “We’re absolutely outgrowing it with the amount of donations that come in. I don’t want to get to the point where I tell someone that we can’t take their donations. Because otherwise, it goes to a garage sale or people throw it out.”
A new Military History Center near Veterans Park and the Broken Arrow Veterans Center is one of the projects up for a vote in the 2026 General Obligation Bond package, Proposition 4: Public Facilities. Moving the museum to a brand-new facility is estimated to cost $9.2 million.
“The building is a great building, and the city’s been wonderful about it, but it’s aging,” Mancino said as he pointed to cracks in the concrete floor. “It’s a 1942 building with a basement that leaks. So, we’re looking forward to the public approving a new building on the bond issue.”
With more space, Mancino envisions rotating exhibits, showcasing even more artifacts, and providing proper care for those not always on display. Each uniform, organized by era of conflict, helps weave the museum’s powerful narrative.
Mancino says the city has a long history of supporting bond projects. In fact, 10 bond initiatives have been approved by voters since 1997, including several General Obligation Bonds and Tulsa County's Vision 2025 programs in 2003 and 2015.
He urges Broken Arrow residents to honor the legacy of those commemorated in the museum by engaging in their community and making their voices heard.
“The people that live here are invested in the community, and they are also very supportive of the military,” Mancino said. “As you can see by the Veterans Center and Veterans Park. But anybody who thinks, well, I don’t need to vote, needs to understand that sometimes elections are won by just single-digit votes.”
To learn more about the Military History Center in Broken Arrow, visit okmhc.org.
